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Your Child's Allergies: Dust Mites

What is a dust mite?

Dust mites are microscopic organisms that live in homes and schools. They like warm, humid environments best. Dust mites feed on the shed scales of human skin that work their way into furniture, carpets, bedding, and stuffed toys. The bodies and waste products of the dust mite are what produce allergic reactions and asthma. The mites live in:

Dust

Cat and dog beds

Bedding and pillows

Upholstered furniture

Carpets

Clothes

Stuffed toys

Fabric-covered items

Dust mites are common allergens. That means they often cause allergic symptoms. They can also worsen symptoms in many people with asthma. The best way to prevent dust mites is to limit your child's exposure. If your child is allergic to dust mites, decrease their exposure with the following:

Beds. Use a wooden or metal bed frame. Don't let your child sleep on a couch, sofa, or hide-a-bed. If your child has allergies or asthma and sleeps in a bunk bed, he or she should sleep on the top bunk.

Mattress and box spring. Place all mattresses and box springs in zippered, dust-proof covers. These should have pores that are too small to let the dust mites get into your mattress and box spring. Tape over the zippers with electrical or duct tape.

Pillows. Put pillows in zippered, dust-proof covers with pores too small to let the dust mites get into pillows. Pillows should be made synthetic fiber. Don't use foam, feather, or down pillows.

Bedding. Wash all bedding (sheets, pillowcases, blankets) in hot water (130°F) to kill the dust mites.